User:QUI511 presentation

The English Renaissance

Socio-political background (Dani)
- began somewhere in the 1520s, and continued until perhaps 1620.

- "Renaissance": implies a positive 'rebirth' from the supposedly more primitive Middle Ages

- English Renaissance quite different from Italian Renaissance: Focus on literature rather than on visual arts

- Elizabethan era: the Golden Age

- Rule by oligarchy – political freedom for the aristocrats, landowning class, nobility

- Mix of Gothic and Grecian styles

- Black Death

- no real tie with aims and achievements of Italian Renaissance

- allowed freedom of religion, moderated religious conflicts

Characteristics

- Elevation of literary tone, sometimes called the “Age of Idealism”

- shift in approach to religion

- focus on gathering empirical evidence and math

- ideas from antiquity: cultural history centered on Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome

- Humanism: looking at issues of morality based on rationality

Background of Shakespeare(Nora)
(1) William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

- an English poet and playwright, also known as the Bard of Avon

- born in Stratford-upon-Avon

- Surviving works, including collaborations: 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems and other poems.

- Profoundly impacted the world over in areas of literature, culture, art, theatre, and film

- is considered one of the best English language writers ever.

(2) First brush with theatre

- around the age of eleven

- entered the grammar school of Stratford, King's New School

- studied theatre and acting, as well as Latin literature and history.

- travelling companies of actors would perform at market fairs, or at great country houses.

(3) Marriage

- at 18, married Anne Hathway, who was a few years older.

- one of William's earliest poetic works is a sonnet (number 145) written to Anne.

(4) A Second Job

- general economic hardship in Warwickshire at that time

- affected Shakespeare's father's business (glove making) and the Shakespeare family.

- therefore, needed to find other employment.

(5) Travelling theatre companies

- would perform at market fairs, or at great country houses to entertain local official townsmen

- Shakespeare joined them as an actor

- took Shakespeare to London.

(6) Early years in London.

- little is known..

- speculations that he pursued his writing in the taverns where he was lodging.

- by 1592, at 27, Shakespeare had established himself as both an actor and writer.

(7) 1593: The Plague in London

- many fled city for the open country.

- shops, theatres were closed

- Shakespeare spent his time travelling between London and Stratford, and had more time to write more plays and sonnets.

(8) At this time of prolific writing

- Shakespeare joined The Kings' Men, who bought and performed his various plays.

- became the resident playwright for the troupe

- also acted a couple of roles, e.g. the ghost in Hamlet and Old Adam in As You Like It.

(9) Till his death

- member of the now renowned 'The Kings' Men'

- most likely spent his time travelling between Stratford and London, dealing with business affairs and writing and acting.

- As well as to see his family who remained in Stratford.

(10)Died on 23 April 1616

- buried in the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.

- Cause of death: sources stated excessive drinking and high fever.

(12) Tombstone, Epitath.

'Good Friend, for Jesus’ sake forbear

To dig the dust enclosed here:

Blessed be the man that spares these stones,

And curst be he that moves my bones.'

Representative work (Wan Ting)
Romeo and Juliet

Historical background

- One of the first plays to be revived after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

- Performed in the 18th Century and 19th Century, but it was not until the 20th Century that the language of the play received more attention.

- Most recently used in musical West Side Story and adapted into a movie of the same title.

Why R&J?

- Typical of Shakespearean tragedies, comedy is employed in earlier scenes

- Reflective of society during the Renaissance period (rivalry between dominant rich families)

- R&J also looks at humanism (issues of morality).

- Religion?